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jerk

verb [I or T, usually + adv/prep]
 
 
/dʒɜːk/ US  /dʒɝːk/

Definition

to make a short sudden movement, or to cause someone or something to do this: The car made a strange noise and then jerked to a halt. "What's wrong?" she asked, jerking her head up.Making short, sudden movements to (force or cause someone or something to) suddenly behave differently, usually by understanding something or becoming active again: The shock of losing his job jerked him out of his settled lifestyle.Affecting and influencing
(Definition of jerk verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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